Peter Wangechi

Football Preview: Blue Streaks Ready for Homecoming vs. Wabash

10/15/2026 4:47:00 PM | By: JCUSID

JCU will wear all white for the Folds of Honor Game; JCU students get a free shirt

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – The 16th ranked John Carroll Blue Streaks return to Don Shula stadium after a road loss and a bye week to regroup, facing another tough task in the Wabash Little Giants, who are looking to rebound after their first loss of the season as well.

Two weeks ago the Blue Streaks woke up early for the long journey to Washington University in St. Louis, where a surge in the middle of the game, which saw the Bears score 21 unanswered points in a 35-25 victory. JCU outgained WashU in the contest 344 yards to 263, but three turnovers shifted the game in favor of the home team.

Wabash faced a similar challenge in a Denison squad that came into the game a perfect 3-0 in NCAC play. The Little Giants led 23-10 heading into the fourth quarter thanks to two rushing scores. But after a 65-yard touchdown, the ensuing PAT was blocked by Denison, turning the tide. The Big Red responded with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, with the game winner coming with just 47 seconds left in the game.

This is the third matchup between these two squads historically. A year ago at Don Shula Stadium, 28 first-half points from JCU proved to be just enough in a 31-28 victory over the Little Giants in their first meeting as conference opponents. The first meeting dates all the way back to November of 1961, when the Little Giants won a low scoring close game 7-6 in their only meeting at Wabash.

JCU will honor Folds of Honor and Pershing Rifles (ROTC) pregame, the Soeder Family between the first and second quarters, Streaks on the Rise during the Two-Minute timeout of the first half, the 2026 Hall of Fame Class at halftime (including the 2016 Football Team), and the 1976 Baseball Team between the third and fourth quarters.

Here's what to expect for JCU's Homecoming game.

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TV: Live on Cleveland's 43
Radio: Listen on WJCU 88.7 FM / WJCU.org

The Offenses

JCU
The Blue Streaks' offense has experienced growing pains with a new offensive staff and quarterback, but have been very effective and rank near the top nationally. Denison transfer Tyler Green leads the helm and ranks at the top of the conference in passing touchdowns, yards and third in yards per completion. Last time out, the junior completed 28-of-50 passes for a season high 344 yards and three touchdowns. Green also took a season-high five sacks and threw two interceptions in the loss. On the season, the Concord, North Carolina native has thrown for 1,328 yards, 16 touchdowns and three interceptions with a 68.1% completion rate. Green has thrown for three or more touchdowns in each of his last four games.

On the ground, the Blue Streaks heavily lean in favor of their sophomore converted high school quarterback, Cohen Klimak. The Streetsboro native has over 100 touches through the first five games, including 85 rushes for 350 yards and a team-high four touchdowns. Klimak had a big week against the Bears with 64 rushing yards on 14 carries, to go along with two catches for 53 yards.

Quincy Newsom is the most experienced back in the room, and looks to be back fully healthy and working his way toward a bigger workload. The Twinsburg native only had five carries through the first two weeks. Since then, the senior has tallied 150 yards rushing and over six yards per carry.
The wideout room has been the Blue Streaks has been perhaps their deepest group offensively. The corps is led by Ohio Dominican transfer Shane Lindstrom, who has 334 yards on 27 catches and four touchdowns. Lindstrom also mans the punt return duties for the Blue Streaks. Last time he returned a punt at Don Shula Stadium, the senior tied a JCU record with a 92 yard punt return touchdown.

Dorian Facen Jr. has returned from a medical redshirt in 2025, alongside Nico McBride, who has burst onto the scene have combined for 32 catches, 545 yards and six touchdowns. Facen Jr. has hauled in a score in each of his last four games.

Wabash
The Little Giants feature a ground and pound attack, featuring a quarterback with a lot of experience.

Senior signal caller Brand Campbell will be making his 26th start of his career and his second against JCU. Campbell has struggled at times, bolstering a 53.4% completion percentage, to go along with 685 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Last week, the Palm Beach Garden native completed 11 of his 19 attempts for a season-high 188 yards, a touchdown and two picks. This includes a 65-yard touchdown bomb. Last year against the Blue Streaks, Campbell completed 15 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown sparking a late fourth quarter comeback that would fall just short.

In the backfield, the Little Giants will lean heavily on junior tailback Cole Dickerson. After losing their leading rusher a season ago, Dickerson has carried the ball 94 times for a conference-leading 588 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Lancaster, Ohio native has carried the ball at least 20 times in all but one game this season, and has scored a touchdown in every game.

The Wabash wide receivers have been solid when given opportunities. Senior Southeast Missouri State transfer Luke Adams has hauled in a team high 23 receptions and 281 yards but has yet to reach the end zone. Right behind him is Nick Witte, who averages 23.1 yards per reception.

The Defenses

JCU
The Blue Streaks bolstered one of the nation's top defenses statistically through the first four games before giving up by far a season-high 412 yards of total offense to WashU. Despite the setback, JCU still ranks inside the top ten nationally in total defense.

JCU's defensive line is led by their lone returners from last year's final four run, Ivory Travers and Hunter Kanotz. Travers has filled up the stat sheet, with 20 tackles, six and a half for loss, and a team high three sacks. Kanotz led the team in tackles for loss and sacks a season ago and has seven and a half for loss and five sacks in his career. Junior defensive end Davon Badley is working his way back, racking up five total tackles a week ago.

After losing eight starters from last season, with multiple coming from the linebacker room, Ben Gabrich and Tommy Tartabini have stepped up in a huge way. The two rank first and third on the team in total tackles 40 combined between the sophomores. Tartabini missed JCU's last home game against Wittenberg, but responded nicely against WashU, with five tackles and a pass breakup.

The defensive back room is the most experienced group for the Blue Streaks, returning Dylan Crasi, Jacob Hufnagel and Josh Jones all who have started in previous seasons. On the back end, Greg Roman Jr. and Gino Blasini have been everywhere on the field from their safety position, combining for three interceptions and 26 total tackles.

Wabash
Wabash's defense has been incredible this season, ranking first in the conference in run defense, scoring defense, sacks and most importantly, total defense.

The Little Giants as a team have gotten to the quarterback 20 times led by Camden Singer and Dakota Johnson. Singer has been unbelievable this season, with 16 tackles, eight and a half for loss, four sacks and a pass breakup. Johnson is in his second year starting for Wabash and has tallied eight and half career sacks and ten tackles for loss, to go along with a fumble recovery in 2026.

Wabash's leading tackler is junior linebacker Carson Foxen, who has tallied 72 career tackles, along with eight and a half tackles for loss and one and a half sacks. William Harris has been right by his side and been on a tear over the last three games. The Indianapolis, Indiana native has totalled 17 tackles over that stretch, along with four tackles for loss and three sacks.

The Little Giants passing defense has been stellar as well, allowing just under 130 yards per game with their current average sitting at 129.4. Wabash also leads the NCAC and sits 35th nationally, allowing 14.6 yards per completion.

Special Teams

JCU
Senior captain Colin Schuler mans the kicking duties for the Blue Streaks and is three of four on field goal attempts with a long of 48 coming in the week one victory over Carnegie Mellon. Schuler is also 27-of-28 on extra points

St. Ambrose transfer Tyler Wilson has been strong in his limited opportunities punting the football. Wilson averaged just under 40 yards per punt, with a long of 75, with 7 being placed inside the 20.

Wabash
Tyler Church is the main kicker for the Little Giants, making 6-of-10 attempts with a long of 45 this season. Church has been nearly automatic from inside 40 yards, making 4-of-5 tries from that distance. The junior also handles the punting duties for Wabash, averaging 42 yards per attempt with a long of 71, with two going over 50 yards.

Keith Jackson, who scored a 65 yard touchdown reception last week, handles the kickoff duties, averaging just under 23 yards per return. Dominic Barnett will return punts, averaging 6.4 yards per return.

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